Originally Posted by Want A Golden

Thank you. I'm hoping to do therapy work and Goldnote spent considerable time trying to identify the best pup for eventual therapy work. I know it's always a crapshoot, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Originally Posted by Want A Golden

I've always wanted a golden retriever. I'm 43 and I'm finally in a position to get one. While my kids were excited, truth be told, I purchased the puppy more for me than my kids. I wanted a golden. I needed a golden.

I did a ton of research, mostly on this tremendously helpful forum. I spoke to several exceptional breeders of uncompromising integrity. But at the end of the day, due to timing and some other factors, I selected Goldnote Golden Retrievers (Bruce Brown). Bruce seemed well regarded on this forum and his focus on socialization and matching pup to owner appealed to me. The hiccup - I live outside Washington, DC and Bruce is north of Toronto. I decided to go up to Canada to pick up the puppy.

Bruce suggested that I spend the day with him and look at three puppies. Bruce had already evaluated several pups, and based on my needs, whittled the list down to three puppies. We spent the day evaluating the puppies and took each of them to a shopping center to see how they'd respond to various situations and stimuli. I met the dams and saw all of his beautiful dogs. I thought I was going to select a little boy and ended up picking a girl.

I arrived at Goldnote Golden Retrievers at 1:00 pm and left at about 9:00 pm. Bruce invited me to a lovely dinner in his home. Bruce and his colleague Judi were incredibly gracious hosts. It was a delightful day. I learned a ton. On Tuesday morning I began the long journey home.

Several of my family and friends thought I was crazy for traveling up to Toronto (I generally didn't share that it was about a 90 minute drive north of Toronto for fear of being considered even crazier). But that was before they met the puppy, Winter. Now, no one seems to question my decision to travel so far for a puppy.

PS - I look forward to continue to learn and hopefully begin to contribute to this wonderful forum.

Originally Posted by MercyMom

I wish you the best in your therapy dog endeavors.

Originally Posted by Want A Golden

I've always wanted a golden retriever. I'm 43 and I'm finally in a position to get one. While my kids were excited, truth be told, I purchased the puppy more for me than my kids. I wanted a golden. I needed a golden.

I did a ton of research, mostly on this tremendously helpful forum. I spoke to several exceptional breeders of uncompromising integrity. But at the end of the day, due to timing and some other factors, I selected Goldnote Golden Retrievers (Bruce Brown). Bruce seemed well regarded on this forum and his focus on socialization and matching pup to owner appealed to me. The hiccup - I live outside Washington, DC and Bruce is north of Toronto. I decided to go up to Canada to pick up the puppy.

Bruce suggested that I spend the day with him and look at three puppies. Bruce had already evaluated several pups, and based on my needs, whittled the list down to three puppies. We spent the day evaluating the puppies and took each of them to a shopping center to see how they'd respond to various situations and stimuli. I met the dams and saw all of his beautiful dogs. I thought I was going to select a little boy and ended up picking a girl.

I arrived at Goldnote Golden Retrievers at 1:00 pm and left at about 9:00 pm. Bruce invited me to a lovely dinner in his home. Bruce and his colleague Judi were incredibly gracious hosts. It was a delightful day. I learned a ton. On Tuesday morning I began the long journey home.

Several of my family and friends thought I was crazy for traveling up to Toronto (I generally didn't share that it was about a 90 minute drive north of Toronto for fear of being considered even crazier). But that was before they met the puppy, Winter. Now, no one seems to question my decision to travel so far for a puppy.

PS - I look forward to continue to learn and hopefully begin to contribute to this wonderful forum.